AUBURN, Ala. -- Cameron Artis-Payne helped Auburn overcome a sleepy start, turned in another 100-yard rushing game and sent the Tigers on to the Iron Bowl with a 31-7 win over Samford on Saturday night.

The Tigers took their first lead in the second quarter, once Artis-Payne, the SEC's leading rusher, started heading toward his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season. He finished with 129.

A series of other big plays helped, too.

Auburn improved to 8-3 heading into next Saturday's game at Alabama.

Samford didn't go quietly, at least early. Samford, coached by former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, had his Bulldogs in the game, battling to a first-quarter tie and a 7-0 lead early in the second period.

Auburn's offense then found the spark, Artis-Payne and defensive line that began sacking Samford.

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall hit 11-of-18 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. It was the final game in Jordan-Hare for Marshall and 19 other seniors. Seven underclassman walk-ons were there for the last time, too.

"I'm very happy for our seniors. The senior class is a very special group," said coach Gus Malzahn. "It's good to send them out on a high note. I love those guys. They've been phenomenal for our program, not just as players, but as individuals."

The start was nothing like the finish. Auburn and Samford played a sleepy first quarter, and the first score belonged to Samford when Michael Eubank threw a 7-yard TD pass to Tony Philpott with 7:49 left in the second quarter.

Auburn then reeled off 17 straight points to close out the first half, scoring the first time on a 23-yard Quan Bray end-around, then on a 29-yard goal by Daniel Carlson and a 7-yard run by Cameron Artis-Payne with 44 seconds left in the second quarter.

Marshall threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Corey Grant on Auburn's first series of the second half to erase the apprehension of a sluggish first quarter. A 24-7 lead did that.

Roc Thomas scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth for a 31-7 lead.

Auburn had a little fun after that, including an 18-yard pass from backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson to fellow backup quarterback Jonathan Wallace.

Auburn finished the first half with 209 yards, partially thanks to Bray, who had 44 yards in receiving and 34 yards in rushing, plus 30 yards in punt returns. His rushing touchdown made him the first player in Auburn history with a TD by run, receiving and punt return in the same season.

Things were back in order by the end of the third quarter when Auburn had 298 yards and Samford had 166 yards.